Sermon: "Two Roads to Salvation"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Our Bible readings today offer us roadmaps for the way to salvation … or, more accurately, maps for two alternative routes toward salvation. Even though the destination is the same in each case, the routes to that destination most definitely are different. The first is the way of the law, and the second, the way of mercy and of grace.

As with some directions that I am given at times, following one of these roadmaps will not enable the person to reach the prescribed destination. Have you ever followed directions faithfully, only to encounter a dead end? I am afraid that I have. But, more about that possibility as the story unfolds.

The first roadmap to salvation is the way of the law. Landmarks along that way include sacrifice and burnt offerings, which in biblical times the law required. In our day, the legalistic perspective - the way of the law - calls for figurative sacrifices and burnt offerings that are not animals but, rather, some familiar aspects of corporate life. Examples might include alternative perspectives, other viewpoints, something less than biblical literalism, and the like. These alternatives, you see, are unacceptable, by definition, and so, they should be sacrificed, according to a strictly legalistic perspective. This way of the law tends toward rigidity and indisputability. Other perspectives - alternative understandings of truth - are not acceptable or, even, tolerated.

Another landmark on the way of the law is righteousness. The people who follow this route know they are right - and righteous. And they know this, by definition, because they follow the law. A clear distinction is made in the eyes of those who travel this road between the righteous people and others who are unrighteousness. The law itself makes that determination, according to them

Then, the final landmark on this way of the law is that payment is earned and the destination is paid for. That is, people on this path earn their way, and their wages relate directly to what they deserve. And that landmark, my friends, is the dead end on this route toward salvation. We cannot earn our way into heaven. We do not - and cannot - expect salvation on the basis of what we do, even if we try hard to follow the law. Therefore, following this way will result in reaching a dead end, rather than the goal of salvation.

Among those who follow this way are people known as "fundamentalists." And, whether they are Christian, Muslim, or Jew, the fundamental law is their guide - and it also will be their end, for it cannot take them all the way to salvation.

The alternative roadmap to salvation involves the way of mercy. Like the way of law, this one, too, has landmarks to indicate its path.

On the way of mercy, the initial landmark is steadfast love, which always considers the best interest of the other person. Secondly, there is the knowledge of God and the desire to follow God's example - particularly as God has dealt with human beings through the generations - that is, with steadfast love. Therefore, God has provided examples of how to interact with people, and God's way is the one to follow on the road of mercy.

Another landmark on this way is the righteousness that comes not from the law but from the practice of faith. Therefore, ultimately righteousness does not lie within the individual but with God. Ironically, the self awareness of people on this road is that they are sinners, rather than identifying themselves as righteous. God alone is the Righteous One.

The final landmark on this way of mercy is grace. That is, the sinners who travel this way know that they cannot expect to earn salvation as the just wage of their good deeds. Rather, salvation will come only as an undeserved gift - as grace.

In each Bible reading this morning, these two roads to salvation are contrasted - the way of the law and the way of mercy. Hosea spoke the word of the Lord when he affirmed, "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"(6:6). St. Paul's opening words in our reading from Romans affirm a similar theme: "The promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith"(4:13). Finally, Jesus confronts the Pharisees, teachers and defenders of the law, with these words: "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners"(Matt 9:13).

By now, you have realized that while there may be two roads to salvation, only one of them goes the distance and reaches the destination. That is the way of mercy.

I call your attention to one part of today's liturgy in particular. We are given the opportunity today to read and to affirm an important part of the roadmap to salvation. Along with people to be confirmed and received today, all of us have the chance to renew the Baptismal Covenant we have with God … and to reexamine this roadmap to salvation, along the way of mercy.

Therefore, I encourage you to pay close attention to the Baptismal Covenant in just a few minutes. In that Covenant, we affirm our belief in God, first of all. Then, we go on to indicate some of our intentions for Christian living. Please notice that these are intentions - so we are not on the road of the law. Note, also, that our response to the questions of intention is this: "I will, with God's help." That, you see, marks this road as the way of mercy, for we depend on God as we follow this way.

In summary, then, may we choose to travel the road of mercy on the way to salvation. As we do so, may we listen to the encouragement of our Lord, who is our guide on this way: "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." Amen.

Copyright © 2008 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee